Cuttings-conveying mechanism



7, .942. D. R. RICHARDS CUTTING'S-CCNVEYING MECHANISM s-Sheei. l

2 Sheet Filed Nov. 20, 1939 atfy.

bwi hmmmm Nov. 17, 1942. D R, c ns 2,302,461

CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 19:9 e heet 2 Patented Nov.17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANIS DwightE. Richards, Grantham, England, assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company,a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 20, 1939, Serial No.305,331

20 Claims. (Cl. 262-30) This invention relates'to mining machines, andmore particularly to improvements in a cuttings-conveying mechanism orso-called gummer especially designed for use with a coal mining machineof the endless cutter chain type, for mechanically removing the cuttingsor gum from the neighborhood of the return run of the endless cutterchain and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal;

In coal mining machines of the endless cutter chain type, during thecutting of a kerf in the coal the cutting'sor so-called gum carried outfrom the kerf by the endless cutter chain piles up around the machine sothat the accumulation of the cuttings or ,gum hinders been found thatthe continual churning of the cuttings by the endless cutter chainconsiderably increased the power consumed in the cutting operation andfurther appreciably increased the wear of the cutter chain parts andcutter bits or picks, and increased maintenance cost and the timeoccupied in changingcutter bits, and the cost of bit sharpening andreplacement.

Also the accumulation of cuttings around the or machine hindered theproper setting of the roof props.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide improvedmeans whereby the cuttings or gum are mechanically removed from theneighborhood of the endless cutter chain and discharged to a positionwhere they will not hinder traverse of the machine over the mine floorand the effective operation of the cutter chain during the making of'acut. object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveyor mechanism orgummer designed for attachment to a coal cutting machine whereby thecuttings or gum are mechanically removed from adjacency to the machineand conveyed to a convenient point of disposal. Still another object isto provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism embodying a conveyorarranged at the trailing end of a coal mining ma- A further lying thereturn run of the endless cutter chain whereby removal of the cuttingsfrom the machine is effected in an improved manner. vA still furtherobject is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism designedfor attachment to the trailing end of a longwall coal cutting machine atthe rearside of the'cutter bar for removing the cuttings from adjacencyto the return run of the cutter chain. -Yet another object is to providean improved cuttings; conveying mechanism having improved means formounting the same on andattaching the same to a coal cutting machinewhereby the mechanism is not only extremely compact and rugged but mayalso be conveniently moved from its position in adjacency to the cutterchain without dismounting thereof, from the machine, thereby tofacilitate changing of the cutter bits or picks.

The invention according to one mode may comprise a rotary conveyormember such as a revolving disc or table, the cuttingsreceiving portionof which underlies the orbital pathof the cutter bits or picks of theinner portion of the return run of the cutter chain so that'the cuttingsor .gum carried alongby said cutter bits are received on the table, andassociated conveying means such as blades or vanes which may move in apath-above the table so as to carry away the cuttings on the table toaposition for dischargetherefrom. Preferably the blades or vanes arecarried by a rotor which is mounted for rotation about a substantiallyverticalaxis,

and the tablealso preferably rotates coaxially with and in thesamedirection as the rotor. The axis of rotation of the rotor and thetable may be slightly inclined to a vertical plane so. that said axis isconvergent in an upward direction with the axis of the cutter chaindrive shaft of the mining machine. Pusher means may be provided fordischarging the cuttings from the table, and such means may comprisepivoted pusher plates each of which extends between two blades vorvanesof the rotor and is suitably actuated such as by a cam means whichdirects them inwardly and outwardly between the blades or vanes, outwardmovement taking place when the pusher platesare approaching thedischarge position, and inward movement as they pass from the latterposition to the place where the cuttings are received on the table. Thetable and rotor may be driven through a suitable overload releasedevice, such as a friction clutch, by a chain driven from a sprocketsecured to the :chine with its cuttings-receiving portion under- 55shaft which carries the chain sprocket that drives the cutter chain, andthe friction clutch may be spring loaded so that if obstruction isoffered to the rotary table or rotor, slipping of the clutch may occuruntil such time as obstruction is removed, thereby to prevent breakageof the parts. While the various features mentioned may all be includedin a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that thelatter is capable of wide variation in different embodiments, andaccordingly reference to the appended claims should be had for anunderstanding of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes ofillustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of a coal cutting machine withwhich the illustrative embodiment of the improved cuttings-conveyingmechanism is asso ciated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coat cutting machine and theassociated cuttings-conveying mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

N Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on line33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View in longitudinal vertical section takensubstantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a substantially horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyon line 65 of Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. '7 is a substantially horizontal sectional viewtaken on line 'I| ofFig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 81-8 of Fig.5.

In carrying out the invention according to one mode, the improvedcuttings-conveying mechanism, generally designated I, may take the formof an attachment which can be secured in operative position on a coalmining machine, generally designated 2, of the character described, forexample, in my prior application Serial No. 172,994, filed November 5,1937, now matured into Patent No. 2,262,049, granted November 11, 1941.The mining machine comprises a machine frame 3 having a smooth bottomsurface 4 adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the minefloor. The machine frame comprises a front feed frame section 5, acentral motor frame section 6 and a rear cutter frame section I, theframe sections being suitably rigidly united. Mounted within the frontfeed frame section is a horizontal feed drum 8 with which a feed cable 9cooperates in the feeding of the machine. Pivo-tally mounted at I!) onthe cutter frame section at the rear end of the machine frame forhorizontal swinging movement relative thereto in horizontal planesadjacent the mine floor, is an elongated horizontal plane cutter bar orjib II projecting laterally from the machine frame and having guided forcirculation about its margin an endless cutter bit or pick carryingcutter chain I2. The cutter frame section includes a bottom plate I3providing the bottom surface of the cutter frame section, and thelowermost portions of the cutter bits or picks of the cutter chain runin horizontal planes in close adjacency to the upper plane surface I4 ofthis plate, so that the bottom of the kerf cut by the cutter chain liesnear to the mine floor on which the mining machine rests. As fullydescribed in the copending application above referred to,.the feed cable9 is attachable to a swivelled hanger frame I5 otal axis of the cutterbar.

which carries the cutter bar, to effect swinging of the cutter bar aboutits pivot, and the cutter bar may be locked in a right angle position ateither side of the machine frame or in a position extending lengthwiseof the machine frame by means of a conventional locking device, hereincomprising a shiftable latch I6, guided in a vertical recess in thecutter frame section and having an eccentric operating means I'Iprovided with an operating handle IB conveniently located at the side ofthe machine. This latch is receivable within any one of a number ofappropriately located locking recesses I9 in the cutter bar hanger frameI5.

As shown in Fig. 5, fixed to the rear end of the motor power shaft is abevel gear 20 meshing with a bevel gear 2I which drives a spur gear 22,the latter in turn meshing with a spur gear 23. The gear 23 isconnectible by a conventional sliding clutch 25 to a vertical shaft 25,herein arranged with its axis of rotation coincident with the piv-Secured to the lower end of this shaft is a chain sprocket 26 whichengages and drives the endless cutter chain I2. The hanger frame I5 isswivelly mounted on bearing sleeves 21 supported by a cylindric hearingsupport 28 formed on the cutter frame section. Extending transverselyacross the lower end of the cutter frame section, at the inner machineend of the cutter bar, is a cuttings-receiving chamber 29 through whichthe cutter chain passes as it circulates about the cutter bar, thischamber being located immediately above the bottom plate I3 and beneaththe hanger frame bearing mounting 21, 28. From the foregoing it isevident that when the sliding clutch 24 is connected, the cutter chainI2 may be rapidly circulated about the cutter bar I I through thegearing above described. As fully described in the copending applicationabove mentioned, during the making of a cut the cutter bar I I may beswung by the feed cable 9 from a position extending lengthwise of themachine frame to the right angle position shown in Fig. 1 and locked tothe machineframe by thelatch I6, it being understood that during theswinging movement of the cutter bar the cuttings-conveying mechanism Iis detached from the mining machine. When the cutter bar islocked insuch right angle position shown and the cutter bar is sumped into thecoal, the feed cable is detached from the hanger frame I5 and extended,as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, longitudinally in a forwarddirection and connected at its free end to an anchor jack located inadjacency to the coal face in advance of the mining machine. Thecuttings-conveying mechanism I is then attached to the rear end of themining machine, at the trailing side of the cutter bar, in the mannershown in Figs. 1 and 2, and as the cutter chain is rapidly circulatedabout the cutter bar and the feed cable is wound in by the feed drum,the mining machine is fed bodily along the coal face to make ahorizontal cut in the coal near the floor level, and during the makingof the cut the cuttings or gum created by the cutters of the cutterchain are, to a large extent, removed by the conveying mechanism fromthe neighborhood of, the cutter chain and mechanically conveyed to aconvenient point of disposal, as will later be explained. As the mode ofoperation of a longwall mining machine is well known to those skilled inthe art, further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

The cuttings-conveying mechanism I' comprises a suitable casing 30 toenclose the working parts, provided with means forits attachment to thecutter frame Section I of the mining machine. This attachment meansconsists of a pair of arms3l, 3| secured, as by bolts 32, to the upperside of the casing and each having at its inner end a pair of aperturedlugs 33. Each pair of lugs mates with a lateral extension 34 on abracket 35 secured to the rear side of the cutter frame section of themachine at the lateral center thereof, and an attachment is effected byretaining pins 35, each'of which extends through apertures 3! into onepair of lugs and in an alined aperture 38 extending through the lateralextension of the bracket. One of the retaining pins is provided with anannular groove 39 which is normally engaged by a spring-pressed detent40 which is carried by thecasing and may be withdrawn from the groove topermit withdrawal of the retaining pin so that the casing and itscontained parts can be swung horizontally on the other retaining pinclear of the mining machine, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,when this should be required. Within the casing there is mounted forrotation about an upright axis inclined slightly with respect to thevertical, a rotor 4| consisting of a central arbor 42 having paddle-likeblades or vanes 43 extending outwardly therefrom, which blades or vaneshave their respective forward surfaces 44, speaking in terms ofdirection of rotation, conforming in curvature to the walls, ofcylinders having the same radial dimension and having axes equallyspaced from each other and also uniformly spaced from the axis ofrotation of the rotor and parallel to the rotor axis. The side wall ofthe casing adjacent the cutter frame section is interrupted at 45 toprovide an inlet for receiving the cuttings from the cuttings-receivingchamber 29 of the mining machine, and the opposite side is alsointerrupted at 46 for discharge of the cuttings therefrom. Fittingagainst the lower side of the rotor in coaxial relation therewith is acircular table or disc 41 which rotates with the rotor but is of adiameter greater than the diameter of the latter, so as toprovide amarginal portion to underlie the orbital path of the cutter bits orpicks of the inner portion of the return run of the endless cutterchain. The bottom plate [3 is arcuately cut away at 48,

at the rear side of the cutter frame section, to

receive the cuttings-receiving portion of the table, and the table hasits top surface 49 substantially fiush with the top surface [4 of thebottom plate at their adjacent edges. The arbor .rotatably surrounds atubular projection 50 extending downwardly Within the casing and isdriven by a substantially vertical shaft 5| which extends through thetubular projection and carries, at its lower end, a flange 52 which fitswithin and is secured to the arbor. The flange just mentioned isprovided with a central, downwardly extending stub shaft 53 to which issecured the rotary table, and the latter is driven by key-likeprojections 55 from the flange which fit into keyways 56 cut in a boss51 secured, as by rivets 53, to the central portion of the table. Thestub projection is screw threaded at 59 to receive a nut 60 whichengages the boss for holding the table in position. The vertical shaft5|, at its central portion above the tubular projection 50, has aplurality of friction rings 6| which are held from rotation with respectthereto but are all capable of axial sliding movement thereon. The rotorshaft is driven by means of a drive sleeve 62 secured to the upper end'of said,

shaft, through a second'set of friction rings 63, located in an enlargedlower portion 64 of the sleeve, and extending between the aforementionedfriction rings. The friction clutch thus provided is spring-loaded bymeans of springs 65 which surround pins 66 which extend upwardly fromthe upper flange ring, and seats at their upper ends in recesses 61 inthe upper wall of the enlarged part of the drive sleeve. The frictionclutch is set to a predetermined slipping point so in the event ofobstruction encountered by the rotor, the clutch automatically slips toprevent damage to the parts. The upper end of the drive sleeve 62 isprovided with gear teeth 68 for engagement by a pinion 69 fixed to thelower end of a shaft 19 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis inbearings carried by the frame, the upper end of this shaft having fixedthereto a sprocket wheel ll arranged to be driven by an endless chain 12from a sprocket wheel 13 secured to the upper end of the shaft 25 whichcarries the chain sprocket 26 for driving the endless cutter chain, Eachtwo adjacent rotor blades 43 of the rotor have between them a swingingpusher plate 15 which at one end carries an apertured lug 16 adapted tofit between apertured lugs 11 extending from the outer ends of the rotorblades, the latter and the pusher plate being pivotally connectedtogether by means of a pin 18 which extends through the alined aperturesin the lugs. Each pusher plate 15 carries a pin 19 which extendsupwardly therefrom into a cam slot in an upper wall of that part of thecasing which encloses the rotor, and the slot is so shaped that eachpusher plate is swung inwardly within the space between the adjacentblades as it approaches the position where the cuttings are received onthe table so that the cuttings can enter the spaces between the vanes ofthe rotor, and is moved outwardly as it approaches the discharge space46 so as to push the cuttings out of the space between the vanestransversely over the margin of the table through the discharge outlet46 of the casing.

In order that the cuttings carried along from the kerf by the cutterchain may be confined in the chamber 29 fo'r'removal by thecuttings-conveying mechanism, the cutter frame section is provided witha curved guard plate 82 which fits against the edges of and is securedto the top and bottom walls of the cutter frame section. This guardplate is pivotally mounted at 83, so that it may be swung laterally toobtain access to the inner endof the cutter chain, and is held in itsclosed position against the cutter frame section by means of a lockingpin 84. This guard plate has alateral projection 85 extending within theinlet 45 of the cuttings-conveying mechanism, in the manner shown inFig. 6, and acts to direct the cuttings from the chamber 29 into theinlet opening of the conveying mechanism.

The table 41 revolves in a direction opposite to the direction ofrotation of the cutter chain drive sprocket 26 at approximately the samespeed as the cutter chain, and as the table revolves it throws thecuttings out of the path of travel of the return run of the cutter chainand moves the cuttings within the inlet opening 45 of the conveyingmechanism. As the cuttings are moved within the conveying mechanism,they are received from the table by the rotor blades and are conveyedrearwardly and are discharged at the rear side of the conveyingmechanism in the path of travel of the machine by the pusher plates. Bytilting the-axis of rotationof the table slightly with respect to thevertical, the rear'discharge end of the conveying mechanism is elevatedslightly from the mine floor, thereby to improve the discharge action ofthe pusher plates and to reduce the possibility of obstruction due tounevenness of the mine floor. The pusher plates positively eject thecuttings from the rear side of the conveying mechanism, and when intheir cuttings-ejecting position, as shown in Fig. 6, the curvedsurfaces of the plates conform to a curved surface of the casing, sothat the carrying of the cuttings back into the mechanism is prevented.When it is desired to change the cutter bits or picks, the detent 4!!may be released from the groove33 to permit withdrawal of the retainingpin 35, to enable swinging of the conveying mechanism clear of themining machine, thereby to obtain access to the rear side of the chamber29, and as a result changing of the cutter bits or picks is facilitated.Access to the cutter bits is further facilitated by releasing thelocking pin 84 and swinging the guard plate 82 outwardly from the sideof the machine.

If desired there may be suitably associated with the cuttings-conveyingmechanism a conveyor arranged to receive the cuttings discharged fromthe table through the discharge opening 46 for depositing them at a moreconvenient place on the mine floor. The conveyor may be bodilyadjustable to vary the position of the deposit therefrom.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improvedcuttings-conveying mechanism is provided for mechanically removing thecuttings from the neighborhood of the endless cutter chain. It willfurther be noted that by the provision of the rotary table or dischaving its cuttings-receiving portion underlying the return run of thecutter chain, the cuttings are effectually removed from the path of thecutter chain.

It will also be evident that by the provision of the attachment meansfor the conveying mechanism, the same may be readily attached to a coalmining machine, and, due to the pivoted arm mounting structure, may beswung relative to the machine frame to facilitate changing of the cutterbits or picks. It will also be evident that the improvedcuttings-conveying mechanism is extremely rugged and compact and may bereadily attached to a coal mining machine of a standard constructionwith a minimum of change Other uses and advantages of the improvedcuttings-conveying mechanism will be clearly apparent to those skilledin the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with and toderive its driving power from a coal mining machine of the kind having aprojecting kerf cutter, comprising, in combination, a conveyor adaptedto remove the cuttings from adjacency to the kerf cutter and means soconstructed and arranged as to be adapted for the attachment of theconveyor to and in driven relation with the mining machine and embodyingmeans for pivotally supporting the conveyor for horizontal swingingmovement relative to the mining machine toward and from the kerf cutter.

2. A *cuttingseconveying mechanism adapted for association With and toderive its driving power from a coal mining machine of the kind having aprojecting kerf cutter, comprising, in combination, a conveyor adaptedto remove the cuttings from adjacency to the kerf cutter and means soconstructed and arranged as to, be adapted for the attachment of theconveyor to and in driven relation with the mining machine and'embodyingmeans for pivotally supporting the conveyor for horizontal swingingmovement relative to the mining machine toward and from the kerf cutter,said means for pivotally supporting the conveyor including arms adaptedfor pivotal attachment to the mining machine, means for releasing thepivotal attachment of one of said arms from the mining machine while theconveyor is supported by the other arm, and means for pivotally mountingthe conveyor on said latter arm to swing horizontally relative thereto.

3. A'cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttingsout of the path of the cutter chain, and

means arranged in coaxial relation with said table for receiving thecuttings upon said table and discharging the cuttings at a convenientpoint of disposal, said last mentioned means including cuttings-engagingmeans between which and said table relative movement occurs duringcuttings discharge.

4. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting kerf cutter carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to beadapted'to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving thecuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged incoaxial relatiori with said table for receiving the cuttings upon saidtable and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal,said means including an eccentrically movable blade adapted to sweepover the top of the table.

5. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar 'andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttingsout of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged in coaxialrelation with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table anddischarging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said meanscomprising one or more pivoted blades adapted to sweep over the top ofsaid table.

6. A cuttings-conveying .mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a' projecting" cutter bar carry ing anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain formoving the cuttingsout of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged in coaxialrelation with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table anddischarging the cuttings at' aconvenient point of disposal, said meanscomprising one or more pivoted blades adapted to sweep over the top ofsaid table and a cam for controlling the pivotal movement of said bladeor blades to cause the latter to eject the cuttings from said table.

'7. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association With acoalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an' endlesscutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving tableadapted to be disposed on an axis inclined slightly with respect to thevertical at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having its lowermarginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to bedisposed in close adjaceny to the return run of the cutter chain of thecoal mining machine for moving the cuttings directly out of the path ofthe cutter chain, and means arranged coaxially with said table forreceiving the cuttings thereon and for discharging the cuttings from thetable.

8. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttingsout of the path of the cutter chain, and a conveyor device arrangedcoaxially with said table above the latter for receiving the cuttingsthereon and for discharging the cuttings from said table, said conveyordevice including means for exerting a discharge-efiecting force on thecuttings in addition to centrifugal force.

9. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttingsfrom the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate deviceoperating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from thetable and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal.

10. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association With a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and i arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttingsfrom the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate deviceoperating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from thetable-and discharging the cuttings'at a'convenient point of disposal,said pusherplate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted tosweep over the top of the table.

11. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the'cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed I and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie thereturn run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttingsfrom the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate deviceoperating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from thetable and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal,said pusher plate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted tosweep over the top of the table and a cam for controlling the pivotalmovement of said'plate or plates.

12. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolvingtable adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar andhaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttingsfrom the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate deviceoperating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from thetable and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal,said pusher plate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted'tosweep over the top of the table at the receiving side of the latter andfor positively ejecting the cuttings from the table at the side thereofremote from the cutter chain.

13. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for associationwitha coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying a cutter chain,

comprising, in combination, substantially hori zontal conveyor means soconstructed and arranged as to be adapted to be disposed at the trailingend of the mining machine in close adjacency to the cutter bar forremoving the cuttings directly from the path of the cutter chain, andcooperating means for sweeping the cuttings from saidcuttings-removing-means and for positively ejecting the cuttings fromthe mechanism, said cooperating means including a sweeper- 1 meansmovable in planes parallel to the planes of operation of said conveyormeans during the sweeping operation.

14. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying a cutter chain,comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal rotor havingpaddles so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to be disposed inadjacency to the cutter bar for removing the cuttings from theneighborhood of the cutter chain, and pusher plates pivotally mounted onsaid rotor for positively ejecting the cuttings from between saidpaddles.

15. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endlesscutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving tableadapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and havinga marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted tounderlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arrangedcoa-Xially with and above said table and having paddles projectingoutwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings thereon andcooperating ejecting means movable between said paddles for positivelyejecting the .cuttings from between said paddles.

16. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endlesscutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving tablehaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arrangedcoaxially with and above said table and having paddles projectingoutwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings thereon, and pusherplates pivotally mounted on said rotor for positively ejecting thecuttings from between said paddles.

1'7. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endlesscutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving tablehaving a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adaptedto underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arrangedcoaxially with and above said table and having paddles projectingoutwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings .thereon, pusherplates pivotally mounted on said rotor for positively ejecting thecuttings from between said paddles and a cam relative to which saidrotor is rotatable for controlling the pivotal movement of said pusherplates.

18. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having aperipheral conveying portion so constructed and arranged as to beadapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain and which ismovable in a substantially horizontal plane to remove the cuttings awayfrom the path of the cutter chain, said conveying portion being movableabout a substantially upright axis located at the trailing side of thecutter bar, and means movable in the plane of the surface of saidconveyor member above the latter for moving the cuttings over saidsurface from said conveyor member and ejecting them from the machine,said last mentioned means including cuttings-ejecting means betweenwhich and said conveyor member relative movement occurs during cuttingsejection.

19. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having aconveying portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted tounderlie the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of thecutter bar and which is movable in a substantially horizontal plane tomove the cuttings away from the path of the cutter chain, and a pusherdevice movable above the surface of said conveyor member for pushing thecuttings from said conveyor member and ejecting them from the machine.

20. .A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coalmining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying anendless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having aperipheral conveying portion so constructed and arranged as to beadapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain and which ismovable in a substantially horizontal plane to move the cuttings awayfrom the path of the cutter chain, said conveying portion being adaptedto move in a direction opposite from the direction of movement of thecutter chain about a substantially upright axis located outside theorbit of the cutter chain at the trail ing side of the cutter bar, andmeans associated with said conveyor member and movable, in similarlydisposed planes, relative thereto for exerting a discharge-effectingforce for discharging the cuttings from said conveyor member.

DWIGHT R. RICHARDS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

November 17, 1914.2.

Patent No. 2 02mm.

DWIGHT R. RICHARDS.

eby certified that error appears in the printed specification tion asfollows: Page 5, first "into" read--in--; line 15,

It is her of the above numbered patent requiring correc column, line 10,strike out "an"; line 12, for for "in" read into; second column, line 7for and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this in that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signedand sealed this 27th day of April, A. D. 19%.

" seats" read -seat;

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Sea1) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

correction there'

